Compare towns
Hancock vs Ware vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hancock | Ware | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 752Lowest |
6,369Highest |
1,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±11.1 18% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$26k 7% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,500±$21kHighest 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,268±$415Highest 28% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Hancock and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,018Lowest 83% below MA |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±36.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 25% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hancock | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.